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Find the perfect local products, exciting experiences and more for everyone on your list this year with the Columbus Gift Guide. Available now!
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Ohio State University New Students

Welcome to Columbus, students! You chose the best school in the best city and you’re sure to have the best four (or more) years of your life! Whether you’ve lived in Columbus your whole life or your new to the city, state or country, there’s so much to know and explore about Columbus! Take it from us – we’re the destination marketing organization responsible for promoting the country’s 14th largest city.

Columbus at a Glance

Exceptional

Columbus ranked “Highest in Visitor Satisfaction in the Midwest” by J.D. Power* in the 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction Study.

Smart

Columbus won the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge and was named a 2018 winner of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge.

Safe

Marriott named Columbus the Top Destination for Solo Female Travelers in 2018 and Expedia called Columbus one of America’s most tourist-friendly cities.

Inclusive

Expedia named Columbus one of the most exciting LGBTQ-friendly travel destinations in the world, and Columbus has continually scored 100s on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index.

Dynamic

You’ll recognize the excitement in Columbus immediately according to Travel & Leisure, who named the capital city one of America’s 30 favorite cities. One of the New York Times’ 52 Places to Visit in 2019, Columbus is a top travel spot.

Booming

The population of Columbus is growing and thriving, with the city named one of the 10 Best Big Cities to Live in Right Now and a top place to live for millennials by TIME and a Best American City to Work in Tech from Smart Asset.

*Columbus, OH received the highest numerical score among 8 cities in the Midwest in the J.D. Power 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction Study, based on 26,124 total responses, measuring the experiences and perceptions of travelers who visited a top 50 U.S. destination, surveyed February-July 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

Districts: 5 on High

As you may have figured out before, High Street, running right through campus will take you miles and miles both north and south through a slew of unique and fun-filled neighborhoods waiting for exploration. 

Five neighborhoods on five miles on High St. in Columbus

Creative Culture

Festivals are Back!

After a two-year hiatus, Columbus is thrilled to welcome back visitors for its full slate of...

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Visual Arts

Can there ever be too many murals? We say no. On our streets or in our acclaimed museums and...

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Performing Arts

Are you moved by ballet, stunned by symphony, or thrilled by theatre? See world-renowned talent in...

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Fashion

Columbus is home to more fashion designers than any U.S. city, outside of New York City and Los...

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Food Scene 

Columbus’ incredible food scene features top-ranked chefs, a rich farm-to-table movement, one-of-a-kind restaurants, and creative takes on classic dishes. From fast-casual to fine-dining, you won’t have a problem finding something to suit every taste in the city that Food & Wine named one of the 32 Places to Go (and Eat) in 2019.

The hustle and bustle of North Market, located in the Arena District, is a must-see. A colorful blend of butchers, grocers, bakers, restaurateurs, and more, the North Market is Central Ohio’s oldest public market. You’re sure to feel the diversity, locality, and vibrancy of Columbus.

Columbus Has No Offseason

Throughout the year, the thrill of pro sports pulses in downtown’s Arena District. Columbus is home to professional sports, nationally recognized collegiate athletic programs and elite annual events, including the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. The city also often draws premier hosted events, including the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Aside from the obvious Ohio State University sports, Columbus is also home to other sporting teams as well providing lots of excitement.